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He Pingping, world's shortest man, dies

He Pingping, 21, the world’s shortest man, died Saturday in Rome, where he was to take part in a TV show, the program’s production company said Tuesday.

He Pingping, of China, who was 2 feet, 5.37 inches tall, had become a recognized figure across the world, often taking part in shows, photo shoots and other events, the Guinness World Records said.

Craig Glenday, the Guinness World Records editor in chief, said He was "an inspiration to anyone considered different or unusual" and "showed us that, despite the challenges we face, we can still make the most out of life."

Guinness World Records said in a press release He was born in 1988 with a form of primordial dwarfism. He was officially measured in March 2008.

He was taken to a hospital March 3 after he fell ill while rehearsing the Italian program "The Record Show," said Marco Fernandez de Araoz of the TV production company Europroduzione.

After two days, He was transferred to intensive care, where he was found to have a heart condition and high cholesterol, said Fernandez de Araoz. He said the hospital, where he died, had so far given as his cause of death the heart condition.

-- Associated Press

Photo: In a photo taken in January, He Pingping of China, who Guinness World Records said was the world's shortest man, stands next to Sultan Kosen. Kosen, of Turkey, is the world's tallest man, standing 8 feet, 1 inch. Credit: Associated Press